Malaysia bags six awards in international handicraft showcase

NEW DELHI: Malaysia’s cultural promotion in India received a boost when it bagged six international handicraft awards.

Malaysia made submissions in 13 categories and won six at the 6th International Craft Awards, Kraftangan Malaysia director-general Ainu Sham Ramli said.

“These awards will help us in promoting Malaysian crafts. We see a lot of potential in India for our unique Malaysian batik in the high-end market segment,” she told Bernama in New Delhi on Sunday.

She said Kraftangan Malaysia wants to collaborate with Indian government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in arts and craft as part of the Malaysian High Commission’s cultural diplomacy in the country.

Kraftangan Malaysia is also keen to study the places that are famous for handicrafts in India and has invited Indian artisans to Malaysia for craft-making demonstrations.

The Malaysian entities that won the awards in New Delhi included Kraf Komuniti Ku Lahad Datu from Sabah, Syarikat Pemasaran Karyaneka Sdn Bhd, MyCraftShoppe.Com and Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (MHDC).

Ramtiniwaiti Ramlee was honoured as the female craftsperson of the year for Sarawak songket weaving and batik entrepreneur Amir Harith Mat Kashim received the lifetime achievement award for contribution to the sustainable development of craft and social inclusion.The event was held in conjunction with the India Craft Week from Oct 20-23. The 5th edition International Craft Awards were also presented at the same event.

The Malaysian Prisons Department won the category of Lifetime Achievement for Contribution to the Sustainable Development of Craft Sector and Social Inclusion for the craft work by inmates.

Prisons Department commissioner-general Datuk Nordin Muhamad, who received the award, lauded the initiatives of Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah in promoting handicraft skills among inmates.